Altoona Man Leads Deputies on High-Speed Pursuit in Marshall and Tama Counties

March 21, 2024 at 9:20 am

On March 20th at approximately 11:43PM a Marshall County Deputy checked the speed of a red Chevrolet Colorado travelling eastbound at MM 193 U.S. Highway 30 at 99 MPH in a 65 MPH speed zone.  As the deputy initiated a traffic stop for the excessive speed violation the driver began fleeing eastbound on Highway 30 entering Tama County.  The driver attempted to elude deputies as the vehicle travelled through the center median several times on Highway 30, turning southbound on Tama County T47 through Montour.  Tama County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Tama Police Department began to assist as the pursuit continued on gravel roads south of Montour that entered a farm field causing grass to ignite. The vehicle was able to exit the field through a ditch embankment, re-entering Marshall County on 310th Street where Marshall County Deputies were able to deploy Stop Sticks, deflating a tire on the vehicle. 

The driver of the vehicle continued to flee northbound on Yates Avenue through a rural farm residence in the 3000-mile of Yates Avenue.  The vehicle exited the property, continuing south to 320th Street then northbound on Zeller Avenue. The vehicle entered a second rural property in the 3100-mile of Zeller Avenue when the vehicle turned around and struck a Tama County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle and a Tama Police Department patrol vehicle as the driver fled the area through the driveway, continuing northbound on Zeller Avenue.  The vehicle turned eastbound on Highway 30 entering Tama County.  Due to the vehicle’s passenger side wheel on the rim, it began to emit a large amount of sparks causing a grass fire near the Iowa River Bridge in Tama County. The vehicle was stopped at the Meskwaki Travel Plaza where the driver was taken into custody without further incident.

The driver, identified as Jeremy Finks, age 48, of Altoona Iowa was charged with:

Eluding 25+ over the speed limit-Class D Felony.

Criminal Mischief 2nd degree – 2 counts Class D Felony.

Assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon-Class D Felony.

OWI 1st -Serious Misdemeanor.

Excessive Speed - 21 over posted speed limit.

Fail to Obey Stop Sign – 2 counts.

Finks is being held in the Marshall County Jail on $40,000.00 cash or surety bond.

This incident remains under investigation as the red Chevrolet Colorado was reported stolen out of Polk County earlier in the evening.  

The Marshall County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Tama County Sheriff's Office, Tama Police Department, Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marshall County Communications Center.  

For more information, please contact Sheriff Joel Phillips by calling 641-754-6380 or via email at sheriff@marshallcountyia.gov

The Marshall County, Iowa Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Joel Phillips and is committed to keeping communities and neighborhoods safe in Marshall County.

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